Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated midwife who aspires to take the next step as a Midwifery Matron with an accountability and responsibility for leading teams working across Maternity Services.
We are looking for skilled and proficient Senior Midwifery Practitioners who currently hold a substantive B7 contract within UHS Maternity Services to join the current matron team with the view of working in a flexible and rotational model.
UHS Maternity Services is a fast-paced progressive service with just over 5000 births every year. The successful candidate will be actively involved in operational leadership and will be a key influencer to ensure the provision of safe, effective, and evidence-based midwifery care for service users and families.
Working in close partnership with the Director of Midwifery, Midwifery Leadership Team and Maternity Operational Team, this individual will contribute to the development of the framework for the maternity strategy and lead on the operational implementation of the maternity strategic vision both at UHS and within the wider LMNS across SHIP.
Main duties of the job
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
What You’ll Do
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will provide professional, managerial, and clinical leadership across the Maternity workforce. As an integral member of the Midwifery Leadership Team, the candidate will take an active role in supporting Maternity Services on a Divisional level, ensuring that we are achieving agreed performance targets, specifically in relation to issues pertinent to intrapartum care provision.
The post holder will lead on and monitor incoming complaints relating to operational issues, outgoing responses and ensure that any opportunities for learning are progressed, communicated, and implemented across the team. This role also requires effective and accountable budget management skills with an oversight around the processes for temporary staffing within Maternity Services. This role will involve regular liaisons with the Head of Midwifery and Maternity Business Support Manager on recruitment and retention workstreams in addition to the continuous develop our workforce on a daily/weekly basis.
The successful candidate will lead on women and birthing people’s experience across our service working with internal and external stakeholders where required to improve care and outcomes.
Your Responsibilities
- Provide professional leadership and line management across the midwifery workforce.
- To participate and facilitate workforce redesign and modernisation of the midwifery workforce, working in partnership with key stakeholders, both within UHS and across the LMNS.
- To exhibit leadership behaviours that demonstrate respect, resilience, trust, enthusiasm, and energy, positively impacting on the culture of the workforce leading to a happy and healthy workforce.
- Take a leadership role, maintaining a high level of visibility across the team, whilst remaining responsive and flexible to the ever-changing priorities of the Maternity Service.
What We’re Looking For
The successful candidate will be required to have experience in working within a senior midwifery role and have a good framework of knowledge around national strategic drivers for maternity services, specifically in relation to the safety agenda. Key core leadership skills to include:
- Excellent communication skills, including a high level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
- Negotiation, facilitation, mediation, influencing and coaching skills.
- Flexible, responsive, adaptable, and resourceful in terms of an ever-changing clinical environment.
- Professional integrity and judgement.
Person specification
Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Patients First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications / Training Required
Essential criteria
- 1st Level Registered midwife on relevant part of the NMC Register
- First degree or equivalent
- Ability to work at Masters level and evidence
- Specialist qualification
- Leadership training
- Management training
- Masters or equivalent experience
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential criteria
- Extensive knowledge of National and Local NHS and Midwifery agenda
- Extensive experience in the acute healthcare setting in clinical leadership/clinical management position
- Evidence of advanced leadership qualities
- Formal and informal teaching experience
- Staff and resource management experience
- Experience of introducing change to clinical environment
- Report writing skills and experience
- Budget management experience
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of specialist area